ROLLE, Switzerland – Alfonso Albaisa grew up on the ocean, cruising around Miami's coastline in the 1970s with his brother, stopping to sleep on islands and drifting off to the sound of the waves. These early childhood adventures sparked a deep fascination with water that continues to influence his work as a designer today.
"I want to harness the power and beauty of nature in my designs," said Albaisa, senior vice president, Nissan Global Design and chief creative officer, INFINITI (Instagram). "But no matter how big your ambition, I've also learned that as a human your physical presence on the ocean is very small. I want to capture this sense of tranquility and humbleness too."
Albaisa's long-held respect for the water is what led him to take on a project to design Motali, a 33-meter, three-story luxury yacht. It was a considerable challenge, especially given the taxing nature of the brief from his client:
"Imagine Motali backing into its bay at Monaco," said Albaisa. "The rear view of this vessel should be like no other. With any yacht, the look and shape are so important. For Motali, it was clear from the beginning that the most important thing was to create something truly beautiful. That's why I designed it with a bullet-like expression and with romantic tapering at the stern that tumbles inwards, similar to the classic vessels of the 1950s."
While Albaisa could draw on many of the design and creativity skills honed during his day job, the key challenge of moving from four wheels to none was the sheer sense of scale.
"A car can be treated as a single thought with one gesture supported by details," said Albaisa. "Yet on a yacht of Motali's size, the gesture is dictated by the architecture – more like a building than a vehicle."
Unlike with a building (or, indeed, a car), though, Albaisa had to look beyond the vessel itself during the design process. Here, once again, he was able to turn to those early years on the Atlantic.
"As someone who has spent a lot of time sailing, I knew the views out Motali's windows would be as important as the vessel itself. On a yacht, the surrounding environment is not static in the same way it is for a building. Plus, it's nearly always majestic – whether you're looking at an island, the open ocean, a city harbour or the lights of a coastline. The exterior of Motali had to fit seamlessly into all those surroundings while the inside needed to be more than just an interior. It's designed to give passengers an experience of travel."
Alfonso Albaisa has spent more than two decades creating some of the planet's most popular vehicles, first for Nissan and, more recently, for the company's premium brand INFINITI. From the Nissan Juke to the INFINITI Q80 Inspiration, he has consistently explored the natural world for inspiration.
Q&A with Alfonso Albaisa and the Motali design project
Q1: What is Motali?
Albaisa: Motali is a 33-meter, three-story luxury yacht. It is privately owned and designed to give passengers a true experience of travel. The design features a bullet-like expression with romantic tapering at the stern that tumbles inwards, similar to the classic vessels of the 1950s, done in a completely modern way. Guests enjoy a fundamentally different shaped yacht, with curved windows downstairs, creating a unique view from the inside out.
Q2: How did the opportunity to work on the Motali design project come about?
Albaisa: We were approached by a client in Turkey to design the yacht in August 1990, during my second year working for Nissan. He told me: Imagine Motali backing into its mooring at Monaco. The rear view of this vessel should be like no other. It was an exciting but extremely challenging brief.
Q3: What made you get involved?
Albaisa: I grew up on the ocean, cruising around Miami's coastline on a six-meter powerboat with my brother. Ever since, I've had a deep fascination with water, and I am still a keen sailor today. At INFINITI Design, we are inspired by the power and beauty of nature and the ocean in our car designs. Creating Motali was a chance to combine my lifelong passion with the job I love. It was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Q4: What did you enjoy most about the project?
Albaisa: I've always been captivated by the look of yachts at rest, so having the chance to create my own vessel was very exciting. I also enjoyed having to think beyond the design of the yacht itself. Unlike with cars, the views out Motali's windows are as important as its own appearance. I had to design something that would fit seamlessly into a range of majestic surroundings – from Monte Carlo Harbor to the open ocean or the bay of a deserted island.
Q5: What was the biggest challenge?
Albaisa: The sheer scale. Whereas a car can be treated as a single thought with one gesture supported by details, on a yacht of Motali's size the gesture is dictated by the architecture. It was more like designing a building than a vehicle.
"Objects aren't beautiful. Originality is."
– Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice President, Nissan Global Design & Chief Creative Officer, INFINITI
That might sound like a strange thing for the creator of some of the world's favorite cars to say but, then, Alfonso Albaisa is not an ordinary designer.
One of the motor industry's most creative personalities, he is the man behind vehicles that are loved and admired all over the world. Cars like the INFINITI Q60, Q30, Nissan Juke and, more recently, the INFINITI Prototype 9, a sleek, open-wheeled electric retro-roadster prototype unveiled at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
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But despite his reputation for attractive, artistic designs, it is not the perfect vehicle Albaisa is striving for; it is perfect originality. What matters to him is not stepping into a workshop, studio or showroom and seeing something beautiful. What inspires him is the confidence and vision that made him – or anyone else – dare to create it in the first place.
"Inspiration from objects is short-lived, like a match that fizzles out," said Albaisa. "But inspiration from breaking new ground is long-burning – a well that constantly rejuvenates and that, as a designer, you can tap into anytime. INFINITI's culture of artistry is not just in design but in every part of the company. I want us to occupy a space that others do not, and I want our cars to be unique."
A fitting example is the INFINITI QX70. The car's undulating hood conceals a powerful sports engine below – Albaisa's carefully constructed metaphor for the ocean waves, which are smooth on the surface with a surge of unstoppable energy beneath. Lovely to look at, yes, but crucially, inspired by his personal childhood memories of speeding across the rolling ocean with his brother.
This pioneering passion also explains why you won't find Albaisa looking to anything contemporary for inspiration. Instead, he prefers to turn either to his own life experiences or to fields like architecture, art, sculpture and nature. He's also not afraid to look back to go forward.
"I like to study other disciplines where people push the limits of their craft, especially historical figures like Michelangelo and Brâncuși," said Albaisa. "My job is not only to be ultra-modern; it's also about adding the necessary artistry in minimal strokes before working hand in hand with the engineering team to translate the passion and emotion of the design into a highly technical execution. Creating something meaningful still gives me the biggest rush of all."
"People no longer want to just own an INFINITI. They want to be part of INFINITI."
– Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice President, Nissan Global Design & Chief Creative Officer, INFINITI
Today's consumers don't just want the end product; they want to know how the end product was made and why it fits their values and lifestyle choices. For designers, unveiling something beautiful is now just the cost of entry. They must also be willing to show customers how and why they created it.
"This a transformative moment for the whole design industry," said Albaisa. "Technology is connecting and simplifying every part of people's lives, while today's consumers value experiences more highly than ownership. These are big changes – and significant challenges. For example, cars must now act as a window to a whole connected lifestyle, rather than just be something that is enjoyable to drive or great to look at."
This hunger for experiences is also illustrated by the modern obsession with storytelling. In the case of INFINITI, this could mean showcasing its unique combination of Asian and Occidental influences or providing an insight to the brand's burgeoning use of organic materials.
"The creativity of using organic materials in new ways – including wood and leather – is untapped," said Albaisa. "We've only scratched the surface. But simply saying we use leather or wood is meaningless. It's about how we treat the leather – where it's from. We have to show people why what we're doing is different."
As for the impact on the future of the design and car manufacturing industries, Albaisa is clear: In both cases, it's about being prepared for greater public scrutiny and willing to relinquish just the right amount of control: "Brands are cultures now, and people don't want to own a culture; they want to be part of it. For designers, today and in the future, that means being brave, transparent and accessible enough to listen to customers' ideas and demands, and take them on the whole journey with us."
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Contact
Stefan Weinmann
General Manager, INFINITI Europe Communications INFINITI Europe., Rolle Switzerland
Phone: +41.21.822.49.12
Mobile: +41.78.627.64.38
Email: stefan.weinmann@infiniti.eu
